Over the weekend, the telecommunications company became the subject of ire once more thanks to a pre-written script that’s made its way into Sinclair broadcasts. Across the country, Sinclair has been prompting its anchors to record a promo that includes this leading claim: “The sharing of biased and false news has become all too common on social media. More alarming, some media outlets publish these same fake stories—stories that just aren’t true—without checking facts first. Unfortunately, some members of the media use their platforms to push their own personal bias and agenda to control exactly what people think. This is extremely dangerous to a democracy.”

As Oliver put it Sunday night, “Nothing says ‘we value independent media’ like dozens of reporters forced to repeat the same message over and over again like a brainwashed cult.”

CNN first reported on the scripted message in early March, noting that despite many anchors’ dismay, the “anchor-delivered journalistic responsibility message” would begin to run on Sinclair stations later in the month. Sinclair has been a subject of concern for many since last year, when Oliver initially covered the conservative company. The company’s political bent and ties to the Trump White House--former Trump aide Boris Epshteyn serves as its chief political analyst—have been a subject of particular concern as the company seeks to acquire Tribune Media. Previous company-wide “must-run” segments have included pieces on the “Deep State” as well as commentary from Epshteyn. Sinclair has also been accused of using its connections within the Trump administration to skirt media consolidation regulations.

Local news is more than just Sinclair’s strength. The company’s recent agreement to pay $3.9 billion for Tribune Media would give Sinclair control of more than 200 local TV stations, reaching roughly 72% of the television-owning households. In the words of Variety, the Tribune Media deal, which still requires approval from federal regulators, would turn Sinclair into “a broadcast colossus the likes of which the industry has never seen.” (Interestingly, Fox News-parent company 21st Century Fox was also rumored to be kicking the tires on a Tribune Media deal before Sinclair pulled the trigger.)

The deal also gives Sinclair a minority stake in the Food Network and full ownership of the general entertainment cable channel WGN America. So, even if an all-news cable network isn’t in the works, those channels combined with Sinclair’s massive (and growing) footprint give the broadcaster the opportunity to have much more of a presence on the national stage. But, that possibility is exactly what has Sinclair’s criticsconcerned that a wider reach will give the company a massive platform to push a conservative political message.

Conservatives and Donald Trump can bleat all they want to about how CNN and the NYT and the Washington Post are fake news but what Sinclair is doing is the real fake news. They are literally forcing local TV stations to run what amount to propaganda pieces that are heavily biased for conservatives and against liberals. The fact that they might soon have access to a majority of American TV stations is frightening.

"You will give the people an ideal to strive towards. They will race behind you. They will stumble. They will fall. But in time, they will join you in the sun. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders."
--Jor-El

It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job: it's a depression when you lose yours.
-- Harry S. Truman

It's the beginning of a state run media. Fascism at it's finest. But, don't worry, it's all fake news, a witch hunt, a nothing burger, and if it isn't Obama's fault, it's Hillary's. Just sayin'...

Rules for surviving an Autocracy:

Rule#1: Believe the Autocrat.
Rule#2: Do not be taken in by small signs of normality.
Rule#3: Institutions will not save you.
Rule#4: Be outraged.
Rule#5: Don't make compromises.
Rule#6: Remember the future.

It's the beginning of a state run media. Fascism at it's finest. But, don't worry, it's all fake news, a witch hunt, a nothing burger, and if it isn't Obama's fault, it's Hillary's. Just sayin'...

It really is scary. Heck, watching most programs on Fox News I feel like I am watching state run media. It is eerie to see most of the programs give Trump a pass. They downplay or just ignore a lot of his scandals and the scandals of those in his administration while still going after Obama and Clinton.

"You will give the people an ideal to strive towards. They will race behind you. They will stumble. They will fall. But in time, they will join you in the sun. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders."
--Jor-El

It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job: it's a depression when you lose yours.
-- Harry S. Truman